ROCHESTER — When Gonic resident Elizabeth O’Malley arrived at Rochester Circuit Court early Monday morning for an arraignment, she said she didn’t know what to expect.

She had been targeted by the Rochester Police Department’s new initiative to hold parents accountable for their children’s truant behavior in school and faced a violation level offense with a $310 fine attached.

But, as designed by the department’s new program, O’Malley opted instead to pay only $20 and attend a diversion program at the police station, where she and her 17-year-old child will have to attend classes together for four weeks and learn about the importance of attending school.

Outside the courtroom, O’Malley expressed the grave difficulty she’s had in connecting and disciplining her child over the years, though said she is open to attending the program.

“I’m willing to accept any help at all,” she said.

Others were not as amenable to the charges. Arriving promptly for an 8 a.m. arraignment hearing Monday, several parents and guardians spoke with Det. Steve Gahan about their options since receiving court summonses for their students. Of seven Rochester residents charged, four parents pleaded no contest, opting to take the diversion program, and two entered a not guilty plea.

Judge Dan Cappiello told the courtroom as he arraigned them the truancy statute is not a new law — it has been existing for some time — and it is every parent or guardian’s responsibility to get their minors to school promptly and consistently.

For the parents who opted to take the diversion program, they were ordered to have “one year of good behavior,” where if their children attend school consistently, the charge will be placed on file. During that time they must be willing attend the diversion program and complete it “successfully,” Cappiello said.

Tammy Batista, Maria Murphy, Elizabeth O’Malley and Lisa Dexter, charged with two counts for each of her children, all pleaded no contest and have agreed to take the diversion program at the police station for $20 each, to cover the cost of a specialist.

Nicanne Brown and Sandra Coombs each pleaded not guilty and will have a trial date set for March 28 in Rochester Circuit Court.

Finally, Alice Segura did not attend the arraignment and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest with a $1,000 personal recognizance bail order attached.

Outside the courtroom Murphy, of Upham Street, and Batista, who said she moved to Barrington recently after her children had difficulty in the Rochester school system, said they were sisters. They said they were surprised to see each other at the courthouse and both stressed they had done everything they could for their struggling teens.

Murphy, who has a 16-year-old, said she has tried working with both the school administration and the police department, but to no avail.

‘They’re not doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Murphy said. “…I’ve done everything that I’m supposed to do.”

Batista said she worried the diversion program would have no effect on her 14-year-old.

“I really don’t think it’s going to work,” she noted.

O’Malley told Foster’s her child used to receive assistance through the Children in Need of Services (CHINS) state program, but since cutbacks at the state level, the program has become narrowed and she said her family doesn’t have the support they need.

The Rochester Police Department previously said the new truancy policy with diversion program aimed to charge the parents in the city who “don’t care” about their child’s student attendance. But O’Malley said she believes that statement doesn’t apply to her.

“I’m definitely trying …,” she said. “I’m absolutely going to try and stand up for myself.”